Conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine

ABSTRACT

A conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine includes a first carrying mechanism, a first driving mechanism and a guiding mechanism. The first carrying mechanism has a base, at least one positioning device, which is disposed on the base and can position a wheel of a to-be-washed vehicle, and a moving device disposed on the base. The first driving mechanism has a driving unit for driving the moving device of the first carrying mechanism. The guiding mechanism guides the moving device to move in a moving direction. The wheel of the vehicle is positioned on the base of the first carrying mechanism, and the base is driven by the driving unit to move the vehicle forward.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine, and more particularly to a conveying apparatus for conveying a to-be-washed vehicle to move in a predetermined direction.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conveyor 1 of a conventional vehicle washing machine includes left and right metallic guiding trails 11 parallel to each other, two chains 12 abutting upon the guiding trails 11, four sprockets 13 respectively engaging with the chains at front and rear ends, push rods 14 movable with the chains 12, and two guiding rods 15 for guiding the wheels to move in a predetermined direction.

After the vehicle is driven to allocation between the guiding rods 15 and stops at a predetermined position, the operator of the vehicle washing machine starts a motor (not shown) to drive the sprockets 13 and thus push the push rods 14 to push the wheels forward.

Although this kind of conventional vehicle washing machine can automatically wash the vehicle, it still has the following drawbacks.

First, when the vehicle is moving forward, two lateral sides of the tires tend to be scratched by the guiding trails 11. Thus, the weaker lateral sides of the tires tend to be worn out. Although the tires are not broken, they still influence the safety of running seriously. More particularly, the guiding trails 11 frequently have the metallic projecting burrs, so the tires may be scratched more seriously.

Second, because the push rods 14 are continuously moved forward, the chains 12 and the sprockets 13 are inevitably exposed. A lot of washing water tends to flush away a lot of lubrication oil on the chains 12 and the sprockets 13 into the culvert to cause the environmental contamination. In order to meet the standard of environmental protection, a sewage treatment apparatus has to be, added, and the apparatus cost is thus increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine capable of preventing the lateral sides of the wheels from being worn out and preventing the sewage containing the lubrication oil from being generated.

The invention achieves the above-identified object by providing a conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine. The apparatus includes a first carrying mechanism, a first driving mechanism and a guiding mechanism. The first carrying mechanism has a base, at least one positioning device, which is disposed on the base and can position a wheel of a to-be-washed vehicle, and a moving device disposed on the base. The first driving mechanism has a driving unit for driving the moving device of the first carrying mechanism. The guiding mechanism can guide the moving device to move in a predetermined direction.

According to the above-mentioned design, the wheel of the vehicle is positioned on the base of the first carrying mechanism, and the base is moved forward by the driving unit to move the vehicle forward such that the tires of the vehicle are never scratched by the elements of the vehicle washing machine. In addition, the structures needing the lubrication oil can be covered and encapsulated to prevent the oil from being flushed away by the washing water.

Further aspects, objects, and desirable features of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing a conveyor of a conventional vehicle washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing an initial state of a conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an incomplete cross-sectional side view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing a state of the preferred embodiment, in which the front and rear wheels of the vehicle have been positioned on the first and second carrying mechanisms;

FIG. 5 is a top view, which is similar to FIG. 4 and shows that the first carrying mechanism has reached a front end of the vehicle washing machine to enable a sensor device to stop the first carrying mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a top view, which is similar to FIG. 4 and shows the state when the vehicle has been washed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention can convey a vehicle 9 into the vehicle washing machine by positioning front and rear wheels 91 and 92 of the vehicle 9. The apparatus includes a first carrying mechanism 2, a first driving mechanism 3, a guiding mechanism 4, a second carrying mechanism 5, a second driving mechanism 6 and a sensor device 7.

The first carrying mechanism 2 has a base 21, two positioning devices 22, which are disposed on the base 21 and can position the front wheels 91 of the vehicle 9, and a moving device 23 disposed on the base 21. The base 21 has a rectangular hollow frame 211 having a top plate 212 formed with front and rear mounting holes 213 on each of left and right sides of the top plate 212. Each positioning device 22 has a front pressing plate 221 and a rear resisting plate 222. The front and rear plates 221 and 222 are embedded into the front and rear mounting holes 213. Each front pressing plate 221 has a pivoting end 223 pivoted onto the base 21, and a spring end 224 away from the pivoting end 223. Each positioning device 22 further has a front spring 225 and a rear spring 226 respectively connected to spring ends 224 of the plates 221 and 222. The other end of each of the front and rear springs 225 and 226 is connected to a bottom plate 214 of the base 21 to provide an upward restoring bouncing force such that the front and rear plates 221 and 222 are in an inclined state when no pressing force is applied thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, the moving device 23 has a front roller shaft 231 and a rear roller shaft 232 separated from each other, four rollers 233 respectively mounted on the front and rear roller shafts 231 and 232, and one driven sprocket 234 fixed to the front roller shaft 231. It is to be specified that the elastic constant of each front spring 225 is greater than that of the rear spring 226. So, it is more difficult to press the front pressing plate 221 into the horizontal state. The positioning device 22 of this embodiment may also be an arced slot formed on the base 21. That is, any positioning device capable of preventing the front and rear wheels 91 and 92 from rolling can achieve the object of the invention.

The first driving mechanism 3 has a driving unit 31 for driving the moving device 23 of the first carrying mechanism 2, a driving sprocket 32 driven by the driving unit 31, a chain 33 connecting the driving sprocket 32 to the driven sprocket 234 of the moving device 23, and a casing 34 for covering the driving unit 31, the driving sprocket 32, the driven sprocket 234 and the chain 33. The driving unit 31 in this embodiment is a braking motor.

The guiding mechanism 4 has two longitudinal sliding rails 41 disposed at left and right sides.

Each roller 233 of the moving device 23 has a cylindrical contact 235 capable of rolling on the sliding rail 41, and a position limiting part 236 extending and expanding radially from the contact 235. The inner sides of the position limiting parts 236 contact the outer sides of the sliding rails 41 to guide the base 21 to move along the sliding rails 41. Of course, the sliding rail 41 may also be configured to have a V shape, and the roller 233 has a corresponding V-shaped groove as long as the sliding rail 41 can guide the base 21 to move forward.

The second carrying mechanism 5 having the same structure as the first carrying mechanism 2 has a base 51, a frame 511, four mounting holes 513, a top plate 512, a base 514, two positioning devices 52, two front pressing plates 521, two rear pressing plates 522, two front springs 525, two rear springs 526, a moving device 53, a front roller shaft 531, a rear roller shaft 532, four rollers 533 and a driven sprocket 534. Each of the front and rear pressing plates 521 and 522 has a pivoting end 523 and a spring end 524. Each roller 533 has a contact 535 and a position limiting part 536.

The second driving mechanism 6 having the same structure as the first driving mechanism 3 has a driving unit 61, a driving sprocket 62, a chain 63 and a casing 64. The driving unit 61 has a motor particularly having a clutch mechanism. Because the clutch mechanism of the motor can be easily found in the prior art and is not the important issue of the invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The sensor device 7 is disposed behind the vehicle washing machine and is a micro switch electrically connected to the first and second driving mechanisms 3 and 6 in this embodiment.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second carrying mechanisms 2 and 5 stop at the rear end of the vehicle washing machine before the vehicle washing machine starts to wash the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. So, when the vehicle 9 starts to enter the vehicle washing machine, the two front wheels 91 of the vehicle 9 sequentially roll across the rear and front pressing plates 522 and 521 of the second carrying mechanism 5, and the rear pressing plates 222 of the first carrying mechanism 2 and then stop. In this case, the front wheels 91 are restricted between the front and rear plates 221 and 222 of the first carrying mechanism 2. At this time, the driver can shift the gear set to N and wait for the vehicle washing. The operator then starts the first driving mechanism 3, and the base 21 of the first carrying mechanism 2 is moved forward. The rear pressing plates 222 push the front wheels 91 to move the vehicle 9 forward. Then, the rear wheels 92 roll across the rear pressing plates 522 of the second carrying mechanism 5. Because the front spring 525 cannot be easily pressed to make the front pressing plate 521 horizontal, the rear wheel 92 is restricted between the front and rear pressing plates 521 and 522 without rolling across the front pressing plate 521 to leave the base 51, as shown in FIG. 4. Consequently, when the first carrying mechanism 2 continues to move forward, the rear wheels 92 push the front pressing plates 521 of the second carrying mechanism 5 to move the second carrying mechanism 5 forward. At this time, because the clutch mechanism in the driving unit 61 of the second driving mechanism 6 is in an opened state, the second carrying mechanism 5 can be easily driven.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, when the first carrying mechanism 2 continuous to move to the front end of the vehicle washing machine, as shown in FIG. 5, the roller 233 enables the sensor device 7, and transfers an electronic signal to the driving units 31 and 61 of the first and second driving mechanisms 3 and 6. Then, the driving unit 31 of the first driving mechanism 3 stops, and the driving unit 61 of the second driving mechanism 6 starts to move the second carrying mechanism 5 forward, and the rear resisting plates 522 push the rear wheels 92 to move the vehicle 9 forward. At this time, the front wheels 91 roll across the front pressing plates 221 and leave the base 21. The driving unit 61 of the second driving mechanism 6 cannot stop until the base 51 of the second carrying mechanism 5 abuts upon the base 21 of the first carrying mechanism 2, as shown in FIG. 6. At this time, the vehicle washing ends, and the driver can drive the vehicle 9 away. After the vehicle 9 is driven away, the driving unit 31 of the first driving mechanism 3 reverses to drive the first carrying mechanism 2 to move backward at a higher speed. At this time, the clutch mechanism of the second driving mechanism 6 recovers to the opened state. So, the first carrying mechanism 2 can easily push the second carrying mechanism 5 back to the initial state of FIG. 2, and another vehicle can be wasted.

It is to be specified that the second carrying mechanism 5 and the second driving mechanism 6 are not the essential mechanisms and the invention can pull the vehicle 9 frontward by pushing the front wheels 91 frontward using the first carrying mechanism 2 in conjunction with the first driving mechanism 3.

According to the structure of the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the lateral sides of the front and rear wheels 91 and 92 are free from being worn out by the member of the vehicle washing machine when the vehicle 9 is being washed. In addition, the casings 34 and 64 can prevent the lubrication oil of the driving mechanisms 3 and 6 from being flushed away by the washing water. Thus, it is safer and unnecessary to add a sewage treatment apparatus such that the apparatus cost can be reduced.

New characteristics and advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Changes in methods, shapes, structures or devices may be made in details without exceeding the scope of the invention by those who are skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A conveying apparatus of a vehicle washing machine for pulling at least one wheel of a vehicle to push the vehicle to be washed, the apparatus comprising: a first carrying mechanism having a base, at least one positioning device, which is disposed on the base and positions the at least one wheel of the vehicle, and a moving device disposed on the base; a first driving mechanism having a driving unit for driving the moving device of the first carrying mechanism and moving the base; and a guiding mechanism for guiding the moving device to move in a moving direction.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the first carrying mechanism has left and right positioning devices, each of which has a front pressing plate and a rear pressing plate both pivoted upon the base; each of the front pressing plates has a pivoting end and a spring end away from the pivoting end; each of the positioning devices further has a front spring and a rear spring respectively connected to the spring ends of the front and rear pressing plates; and the front and rear springs provide upward restoring bouncing forces.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving device of the first carrying mechanism has a front roller shaft, a rear roller shaft, four rollers respectively fixed to the front and rear roller shafts, and a driven sprocket fixed to the front roller shaft.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the rollers has a contact capable of rolling on the guiding mechanism, and a position limiting part radially extending and expanding from the contact.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first driving mechanism further comprises a driving sprocket driven by the driving unit, a chain connecting the driving sprocket to the driven sprocket of the moving device, and a casing covering the driving unit, the driving sprocket, the driven sprocket and the chain.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guiding mechanism has left and right sliding rails.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second carrying mechanism and a second driving mechanism disposed behind the first carrying mechanism, wherein the second carrying mechanism has a base, at least one positioning device, which is disposed on the base and can position the at least one wheel of the vehicle, and a moving device disposed on the base, and the second driving mechanism has a driving unit for driving the moving device of the second carrying mechanism. 